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It is the first time that a major social media app is banned in the U.S. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, passed in April by Joe Biden’s government, to ban the TikTok app. The U.S. ordered ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell the app to a government buyer, but it didn’t happen.
On January 19th, the TikTok went dark and out of service in the U.S., and users could no longer access the app or platform. The events took a twist just before the Trump oath ceremony, where Trump said that he planned to issue the order to give TikTok more time to settle on mutual grounds before the ban takes full effect.
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Why Does the U.S. Want to Ban TikTok?
With over one billion active users across the globe, TikTok is seemingly the most used app in the world despite access restrictions in many parts of the world.
The background of the TikTok ban came into effect when concerns arose after the Chinese government threatened to manipulate the content and gain access to sensitive data.
The Chinese government argued for access to sensitive data through the app, raising serious concerns in Congress and prompting legislation to ban TikTok unless a US-backed government buyer owns it.
Almost half of the Americans use TikTok.
Those who voted for it are the majority of those who point to banning another Chinese company, Huawei, to limit Chinese influence in the U.S.
Two days before the ban, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the laws and their provisions should stand. Moreover, Biden’s government said in a statement that it will leave this enforcement of the law up to Trump’s government.
Before the oath ceremony, the White House passed the statement that TikTok will remain operational to Americans, only under American ownership.
President Biden signed the legislation into law and gave ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, a time till January 19th to take mandatory action as demanded. The company failed to overturn this law in December 2024 by the panel of three judges who refused the appeal and arguments.
Trump’s Role in TikTok Ban
The app’s disappearance and ban have been in the making for the past five years, when Trump first passed an executive order in 2020 to take down the TikTok app. It did not succeed. The Congress members seconded this; however, only one succeeded in passing. The legislation, “Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” mandated TikTok be sold.
Although Trump initiated the app ban, he attempted to intervene on TikTok’s behalf at the last moment. He promised and stood by the app’s stance in his presidential campaigns, where a large number of audiences appreciated Trump’s favor for TikTok.
Trump will take office and inaugurate his presidential reforms on January 20th, and Americans have high hopes that the order will revoke and not enforce the bill. Trump stated that the court’s decision must be “respected.”
After the ruling, TikTok’s chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, appealed to Trump that he has high hopes for his government and thanked him for his commitment to work with the company to find better and mutual grounds.
Moreover, in his statement, he said, “On behalf of TikTok and its users, I want to thank Donald Trump for his continuous support and commitment to working with us and finding a common ground that is in the best favor of Americans and the app.”
Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20th will likely include Mr. Chew as an attendee.
Why Is TikTok Restored After a Ban?
Soon after the app went dark and out of service, it again restored services to users in the U.S. Apple and Google removed the app from their stores, making it unavailable for use.
This move came into effect after Trump’s statement, where he said that he plans to issue the order to give the company more time to find an appropriate ground for mutual consent. This move awakened the new hopes for American TikTok users, where they appreciated and acknowledged Trump’s commitment to work with the company.
“In an agreement with our service providers, TikTok is coming back online in the U.S.,” TikTok said in a post on X.
Speculations About Potential TikTok App Buyers
People are buzzing about who might buy TikTok, with a new big name surfacing each day. Big names include Elon Musk, MrBeast, and Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank; Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty; former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick; Walmart CEO Doug McMillon; and video-sharing site Rumble, among others.
Every day, people renew their hopes that someone from this long list will buy TikTok. Tech giants and creators alike eagerly await what comes next. Although nothing is confirmed yet, the rumor is generating huge excitement about TikTok’s future.
What People Said…..
“It was a brilliant marketing stunt for both TikTok and incoming President Donald Trump,” Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at market research firm Emarketer, said. “By abruptly shutting off service, TikTok proved how unpopular the ban was among its users.”
Nicole Bloomgarden, the creator, told the BBC that not using TikTok would result in a considerable wage loss. TikTok users received a notice stating that the law would “force us to make our services temporarily unavailable.”
“We won’t be following the same path as the Americans unless or until there is a threat that we are concerned about in the British interest, and then, of course, we will keep it under review,” said Chief Secretary of the Treasury Darren Jones.
Future Outlook
The future of a TikTok ban in the U.S. is still uncertain, with debates over national security and data privacy at the center. Although many lawmakers continue questioning TikTok for its close links to China, millions of users and creators maintain that this is a lifeline to them.
Some potential solutions include stricter regulations, a sale to a U.S. based company, or outright bans on government devices. Negotiators continue working behind the scenes, without anything set in stone. For now, TikTok remains available, but its long-term future in the U.S. depends on balancing security concerns with user demand. Verdict: Wait and watch.
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